Severe Weather

Parents sign kids up for Cincinnati's magnet schools

After two weeks of camping in the cold, Cincinnati parents got the chance to sign up their kids for coveted spots.

Just after midnight Wednesday morning, the doors opened for signups at Fairview-Clifton German School in Clifton. At Sands Montessori in Mount Washington, parents had to wait until 7 a.m. Wednesday.

More than 42 people braved the rain, cold and severe storms all for a chance at 35 open spots.

CPS will automatically enroll students whose siblings already attend a magnet school. The other spots are awarded on a first come, first served basis, hence the campout.

The school system doesn't encourage the campouts, and allots many open kindergarten spots by a lottery system. However, parents have resisted giving up their chance to snare a spot for their children by camping out.

"I want the best for her. She's my youngest and I have three older kids who did not go through this process. I'm getting older and I just want her to have a better opportunity," parent Helen Jackson said.

School officials have not said if everyone that camped out was awarded a spot.

Copyright 2013 byWLWT.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.